VfB defeats Schalke 2-1

VfB remained two points behind first-place Wolfsburg with a 2-1 victory over Schalke. As the Bundesliga reaches the final two weeks, the final match showdown against Bayern could be the ultimate decider in the table, particularly if Bremen can come up big against Wolfsburg.

Without the services of Mario Gómez due to injury, Markus Babbel inserted Ciprian Marica into his lineup. VfB stole the lead at the quarter hour as Cacau picked up a loose ball and worked to the right edge of the box before firing a trailing shot into the top near corner. Ivan Rakitić brought the match even with six minutes left in the half as after a surprising free-kick just on the edge of the area was awarded, he drove the ball into the left corner. Schalke was more aggressive after the break but at the fifty-seventh minute a rebound from Thomas Hitzlsperger fell to Ciprian Marica and the Romanian sent the ball in. Schalke came closs to evening the match up but Kevin Kurányi's header off the post was as close as they got and the match ended 2-1 for VfB.